POCATELLO — Backed by the sounds of a practicing Bengal Marching Band, Idaho State head football coach Rob Phenicie held his first game-week press conference Monday at Holt Arena.

The Bengals open the 2018 season Friday against Division II Western State Colorado. The teams played 26 times from 1931-1962. For part of that time, both teams played in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, which Western State still calls home.

Here are some notes from Monday’s press conference.

INITIAL 2-DEEP RELEASED

Idaho State’s Week-1 2-deep depth chart featured a few surprises and plenty of newcomers.

The depth chart lists 10 first- or second-year freshmen, some of which are among the 10 first-year Bengals to make the cut.

Redshirt freshman Jack Tufono is listed as the starter at left tackle, supplanting veteran Brian Fineanganofo. Tufono earned most of the first-team reps during open sessions of fall camp, and Phenicie said Fineanganofo is unavailable this week and “for probably the first three games.”

Aren Manu, another redshirt freshman, is listed as one starter at inside linebacker. Freshman kicker Campbell Sheidow earned the nod over Parker Johnson and is listed as the No. 2 punter behind left-footed freshman Kevin Ryan.

Other freshmen on the 2-deep include redshirt DJ Hagler at backup outside linebacker, redshirt Isaiah Brimmer at backup wide receiver, first-year backup wideout DeMonte Horton, redshirt Jake Wilkerson at backup center, first-year freshman Jon Herrin at reserve left guard and true freshman Michael Davis at No. 2 long snapper.

Other newcomers on the 2-deep include Snow College transfer Preston Holfeltz at starting right guard, Glendale Community College transfer Cephas Harden at backup outside linebacker, College of DuPage transfer Nikola Wadsworth at backup inside linebacker, Sacramento City College transfer Christian McFarland at starting safety and Snow College transfer Colton Bennion at backup cornerback.

Phenicie said Horton, Brimmer and McFarland were particularly impressive during fall camp.

“They’ve got strong hands, both of them,” quarterback Tanner Gueller said of Horton and Brimmer. “You throw something around them, they’re going to go catch it. … It gives you a little more confidence to maybe throw up a 50/50 ball if you know those guys are going to work their tails off to come down with it.”

JOE MARTIN CLEARED, KODY GRAVES OUT

Redshirt senior linebacker Joe Martin, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last season at Sacramento State, has been cleared to play Friday.

Martin piled up 69 tackles in seven games last season, including a career-high 20 at Utah State. He is ISU’s top returning linebacker and was named a team captain for the 2018 season. He is listed as an OR to start at outside linebacker this week with Oshea Trujillo.

Martin mostly did individual drills during open sessions of fall camp, but said he started “working in” with the first- and second-team defenses.

“It just takes time. All ACLs, they just take time,” Martin said. “I feel good now.”

Though Martin is healthy, ISU is without linebacker Kody Graves this week.

Graves led ISU with 8 tackles for loss last season and was fourth on the team with 58 tackles.

Phenicie made no mention of wide receiver Scooby Reynolds, who suffered his second season-ending injury last season. Reynolds is not on the Week-1 2-deep.

PHENICIE INDICATES TINGEY SITUATION NOT A DISTRACTION

Phenicie declined to comment on Friday’s announcement that ISU Athletic Director Jeff Tingey was placed on paid administrative leave.

Tingey hired Phenicie to be ISU’s 27th head football coach last March following the retirement of Mike Kramer.

“I’m talking about Idaho State versus Western State and our game this week,” Phenicie said.

ISU’s second-year coach also indicated the news is not a distraction for his players as they prepare for the 2018 season.

“We try to tell them they know one speed, and don’t let anything affect them,” Phenicie said. “They can control their attitude and effort and their job is to go out and play hard for the university. My job is to go out and get them prepared to be able to have the best chance to succeed.”

GUELLER, MARTIN, MADISON NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS

Quarterback Tanner Gueller, linebacker Joe Martin and running back James Madison have been named team captains for the 2018 season.

WEAR WHITE

Idaho State is urging fans to wear white to Friday’s game. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Holt Arena.